Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American Republic

Chapter 4: Washington’s “Prime Minister”

4 WASHINGTON’S “PRIME MINISTER” B ratification by ten states did not end the Antifederalist threat, the collaborators did not relax their cooperation during the first federal elections. Considering Madison’s parliamentary skills indispensable to the new legislature, Washington insisted that he stand for the Senate. After losing that contest, Madison won a place in the House of Representatives. For Washington the big question was not whether he would win the presidency, or even whether he would serve, but how best to assume the office. Madison advised him on his acceptance and then assisted in drafting a suitable inaugural address. While collaborating with Washington in the fall of  and , Madison befriended the entire Mount Vernon family. I   Madison sent Washington disturbing news from New York: in return for that state’s ratification, Federalists permitted Governor George Clinton to issue a circular to the states suggesting that the First Congress call a second convention. Madison would rather have seen the Constitution voted down, while Washington pronounced New York’s acceptance more damaging than North Carolina’s rejection. Clinton’s letter raised the stakes in the first federal elections : Antifederalists would now try to win seats in the national legislature, where they could weaken the federal government. To stop them, Washington urged the election of Federalists to Congress.1 Correctly fearing that Virginia’s legislature, led by Patrick Henry, would support New York’s call for a second convention, Washington became despondent.  “I heartily wish Mr. Madison was in our Assembly,” he pined, “as I think . . . it is of unspeakable importance Virginia should set out in her federal measures under right auspices.” At Henry Lee’s suggestion Washington even urged Madison to enter the Virginia legislature to combat Patrick Henry, but Madison choose to stay in New York. Meanwhile in Richmond the delegates prepared to elect United States senators. A career parliamentarian, Madison wanted to serve in the House rather than the Senate to avoid the charge that he had supported the Constitution for personal advancement, and because his tight budget could not support a senator’s lifestyle. He also knew he had little chance of being chosen by an Antifederalist-dominated assembly. Madison instructed Congressman Edward Carrington, who in October journeyed from New York to Richmond to attend the legislature, to notify state Federalists of his decision. At Mount Vernon the envoy found Washington concerned the delegates would name two Antifederalists unless the Federalists ran a candidate “very well established in the confidence of the people.” When Madison learned that Washington insisted that he “be brought forward upon this occasion,” he yielded. If those “who are entitled to peculiar respect” considered his candidacy essential, he would “not hesitate to comply.”2 Assemblyman Charles Lee warned Washington that “Mr Henry has publickly said that no person who wishes the constitution to be amended should vote for Mr Madison to be in the senate, and there is much reason to fear he will not be elected.” On  November  the legislature chose two Antifederal senators: Richard Henry Lee received  votes; William Grayson, ; and Madison, . Accepting in stride an outcome he considered inevitable, Madison expressed surprise “that in the present temper . . . of the Assembly, my name should have been honored with so great a vote as it received.” In contrast, Washington angrily faulted the delegates for ignoring the people’s Federalist sympathies. To Madison, he complained, “The Edicts of Mr. H—— are enregistered with less opposition by the Majority . . . than those of the Grand Monarch are in the Parliaments of France.” The outburst failed to mask guilt over having forced a very public defeat upon his friend.3 Flushed with victory, Henry’s followers tried to deny Madison a seat in the House of Representatives by placing Orange County in a strongly Antifederal district . To keep him from switching districts, the legislature added the unique requirement that candidates run where they resided. Henry even persuaded war hero James Monroe, an outspoken advocate of amendments, to oppose him. “Sorry indeed should I be,” Washington asserted, “if Mr Madison meets the same fate in . . . Orange . . . as he has done in the Assembly—and to me it seems not ’ “ ”  at all improbable.” Washington fretted about Madison’s election because he knew that should he become president, he would need reliable legislative contacts and because he felt responsible that Antifederalists had avenged themselves at Madison ’s expense. Unable to strike at Washington, Henry aimed at...